Democratic Governor's Primary Loss Breaks 12-Year Record
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee lost the Democratic primary to Helena Foulkes on Wednesday.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee suffered a surprising defeat in the Democratic primary on Wednesday, marking the first time in over a dozen years that a sitting U.S. governor has lost a party primary. Helena Foulkes emerged victorious, securing 62.4 percent of the vote compared to McKee's 37.6 percent, according to The Associated Press.
Foulkes, a former executive at CVS and Hudson's Bay, had previously lost to McKee in the 2022 primary. The defeat is particularly notable as McKee had only been in office since 2021, succeeding Gina Raimondo who left to join the Biden administration. McKee's campaign faced criticism over the handling of the Washington Bridge replacement project, which was abruptly closed due to safety concerns in 2023.
Following her victory, Foulkes addressed supporters in Providence, stating that while they had won the Democratic primary for governor, their mission now included serving all Rhode Islanders. This story is ongoing and will be updated further.
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